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Many Americans love sports, and members of Congress are no different. A few times a year, lawmakers from both parties gather to play games in a variety of sports with the goal of raising money for charities. Here are some of the games where Representatives and Senators have the chance to take a break from the usual grind of Washington and bring out their inner athlete.
Congressional Baseball Game
Founded in 1909 by a Pennsylvania representative who once played baseball professionally, the Congressional Baseball Game is the oldest of the lawmaker-centric sporting events. In the game, which has been played at Nationals Park since 2008, Democrats and Republicans form different teams and play against one another. Congressional staffers, lawmakers’ families, and even some presidents attend the game, which raises money for four charities: the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, the Washington Nationals Dream Foundation, the Washington Literacy Center, and the US Capitol Police Memorial Fund.
Congressional Football Game
Started in 2004, the Congressional Football Game features members of Congress and former National Football League players facing off against the US Capitol Police. An Arizona representative led the effort to start the annual tradition as a way to honor the memory of two Capitol police officers who died in a shooting in 1998. The Congressional Football game raises money for three charities: the US Capitol Police Fund, Our Military Kids, and Advantage 4 Kids.
Congressional Women’s Softball Game
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and several other female members of Congress started the Congressional Women’s Softball Game in 2009. Each year, a team consisting of female lawmakers plays against women of the Washington, DC press corps. The game primarily raises money for the Young Survival Coalition, which supports women under 40 who are diagnosed with breast cancer.
Congressional Soccer Match
Founded in 2013, the Congressional Soccer Match consists of separate teams formed by Democratic and Republican lawmakers that play against one another with help from some former professional soccer players. Nearly all lawmakers who participate in the annual event are members of the Congressional Soccer Caucus. The US Soccer Foundation hosts the annual match, which raises funds for several charity programs that help children in underserved communities.
Congressional Hockey Challenge
The Congressional Hockey Challenge began in 2009 from a weekly pickup match consisting of congressional staff and lobbyists. Each year, members of Congress, congressional staff, and administration officials face off against lobbyists, and proceeds from the annual match go towards the Fort Dupont Cannons, USA Warriors Hockey, Capital Beltway Warriors, the Tampa Warriors, and the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association.
Congressional Basketball Game
First held in 1987, the Congressional Basketball Game ran for 20 consecutive years, featuring Democratic and Republican members competing for charity. In 1999, the format shifted to a matchup between members of Congress and lobbyists. In 2024, the event expanded with the launch of the Women’s Congressional Basketball Game.
The Race for Oversight Ranking Member: A Health Care Perspective
As House Democrats prepare for a key leadership vote on June 24, attention is turning to the race for Ranking Member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee—a powerful role left vacant by the recent passing of Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA). His departure in April set off a quiet but important battle over the future direction of one of Congress’s most scrutinizing panels.
Why the House Oversight Committee Matters in Health Care
Though not traditionally the first committee associated with health policy, Oversight’s broad jurisdiction gives it powerful reach into how federal health programs are managed and regulated. Known for its watchdog role across government, the Oversight Committee has, at times, led some of the most high-profile congressional investigations into health care—ranging from drug pricing to health care consolidation to various issues related to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The Committee held a high-profile hearing in April 2025 titled “Restoring Trust in FDA: Rooting Out Illicit Products”, which explored how the agency regulates counterfeit drugs and other health-related consumer risks. Witnesses testified about breakdowns in FDA oversight and the consequences for public health—underscoring how the Committee’s work can shape regulatory reform and policy momentum.
The Oversight Committee has also focused on health care investigations involving pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), drug pricing, and FDA oversight. In July 2024, the Committee scrutinized PBMs like CVS Caremark and OptumRx for practices that may have driven up prescription costs, prompting a related FTC lawsuit in 2024 over insulin pricing.
Who’s Running
If you feel like we just saw this leadership race only recently, you’re right. After the 2024 election, Connolly successfully defeated an insurgent challenge from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14) to become the committee’s top Democrat, a victory secured with the backing of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-11). While Ocasio-Cortez was rumored to run again, she demurred this go-around.
Four Democrats are vying for the spot: Reps. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), and Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), and Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Maryland). Each brings a different background and health care perspective to the race.
Rep. Robert Garcia: The Progressive Challenger
Garcia, a second-term lawmaker and former mayor of Long Beach, has made headlines for his energetic style and alignment with the Congressional Progressive Caucus. He’s pitching himself as a leader who will take a more aggressive posture against Republican-led inquiries and redirect the committee’s energy toward protecting public health programs and the independence of federal watchdogs. Expect Garcia to emphasize pandemic preparedness, access to care for underserved communities, and bolstering federal health agencies’ authority and funding.
Rep. Stephen Lynch: The Experienced Institutionalist
Lynch, one of the committee’s longest-serving Democrats, is making the case for stability and seniority. Known for his pragmatic style, Lynch could steer the committee toward bipartisan investigations into health care fraud, veterans’ care, and Medicare oversight. His experience may make him the preferred choice for Democrats who value seniority and want to restore more traditional, methodical oversight of federal health spending.
Rep. Jasmine Crockett: The Equity Advocate
Crockett, a freshman lawmaker with a rising progressive voice, is running on a platform that emphasizes racial justice and health equity. A former civil rights attorney, she has expressed strong interest in using the committee to probe disparities in maternal health outcomes, access to reproductive services, and the social determinants of health. Her selection could make equity-focused health oversight a more visible part of the Democratic agenda.
Rep. Kweiski Mfume: The Statesman
Mfume, a veteran lawmaker with deep roots in civil rights advocacy and public service, brings a legacy of institutional leadership to the race. As a former president of the NAACP and vocal advocate for health equity he is emphasizing the committee’s responsible to protect vulnerable communities and upload government accountability. If elected, his focus on issues surrounding minority health disparities could shape the committee’s agenda. His candidacy appeals to members seeking experience, moral clarity, and a steady hand in an increasingly polarized environment.
What is Going to Happen
This race is about the future of Democratic oversight on health care. While the Ranking Member is largely left out of decisions about the direction of the committee, House Democrats are vying for a return to power after the 2026 elections. Should they prevail, a Democratic Chair of the committee could review health care spending, an expansion into structural inequities, or a confrontational approach to GOP priorities, depending on who wins the June 24 race to become the Ranking Member. The Democratic Caucus will cast its vote on June 24, with the outcome of the race determining not only the next Ranking Member, but the potential future scope of the committee’s health care agenda.
In what seems like a premiere of the Real Housewives of Pennsylvania Avenue, Elon Musk and President Trump are splitting faster than members of Congress heading to recess. As Musk and Trump throw shade at each other, the Senate’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ might need a big, beautiful rescue plan. Let’s get into it. Welcome to the Week Ahead!
The Administration
The deadline is this week for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) request for information on regulatory burden, and the administration is looking for respondents to dish on how to best reduce the red tape. Health care groups have no shortage of ideas, but like a VIP party, we probably won’t see the guest list except for those who decide to share that they were there. And remember, this is just an RFI, not a new rule or regulation. The administration can decide to take suggestions or leave them as it suits them.
Meanwhile, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought, has told the House Appropriations Committee not to expect more details about the President’s budget request and to work with what they’ve got when it comes to the President’s budget for fiscal year 2026. But it’s already June, and before you know it, summer will be over, and the September 30 deadline to pass FY 26 funding bills will be here. We are already seeing some House Republican appropriators express concerns about the timeline. As summer drags on, that number of doubters could grow.
The Senate
Senate GOP leadership has one goal this week: get “pens down” on the Senate’s version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and start the next scene. But let’s be real—they’re still far from a finished product. And now what GOP leaders had hoped would be a steady march toward passage is a lot like a group dinner gone wrong. Some Committees are releasing legislative text, but no one agrees on the guest list, the menu, or the bill.
Republicans are looking at changes to the health section, including the possibility of adding changes to Medicare Advantage (MA) to help reduce the overall cost of the bill. Specifically, the Senate is looking at dialing back coding intensity adjustments that could net significant savings. Other potential changes to the menu could include:
- Pushing back the December 31, 2026 effective date for new Medicaid work requirements, The House Energy & Commerce Committee had set the effective date for January 1, 2029 in its version of the bill.
- Giving states more time before they are required to conduct Medicaid eligibility checks every 6 months instead of the current every 12 months for the expansion population. Currently, that provision is set to go into effect for renewals scheduled on or after December 31, 2026.
- Extending the effective date for ending the incentives for states to expand Medicaid coverage. That date is currently set for January 1, 2026.
In addition to these considerations, the Senate could bend to pressure to weaken the House-passed bill’s prohibition on new provider taxes and its freeze on existing provider taxes. Senators from states with provider taxes in place have complained that these provisions leave a bitter aftertaste in their mouths.
The trick will be making sure the menu remains appealing to diners in both the House and Senate, some of whom have very different tastes. The menu could get a little less salty if Senate Republicans decide to trim the current state and local tax (SALT) deduction. The House SALT Caucus is demanding respect and threatening to walk if their concerns are not addressed in the final cut.
Will we see a markup? With all the Republican talk of using regular order, so far, the negotiations on tax and health care have been only within their own party. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Shumer (D-NY) and Finance Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) sent a letter demanding a markup, which suggests Finance may not have one. Democrats are ready to host the reunion and get the drama out in the open.
As for the rest of the Senate cast, they’re trying to act calm and collective, but the group chat is full of shade. Negotiations are happening behind closed doors, but the energy is “we’re not far apart” one minute and “we’re done here” the next.
And don’t forget the guest stars. Several fly-ins are happening this week, including key Medicaid constituencies such as nursing homes and children’s hospitals. They’re storming the Hill like Housewives entering a new season—scripted talking points, matching outfits, and a deep fear of being left out of the final edit.
Senate Health Hearings
- June 4: Senate Appropriations Labor-HHS Subcommittee hearing on FY 26 NIH Budget Request
The House
Over in the House, things are a little quieter—but not without drama. The Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee is having a hearing on domestic manufacturing and the health care product supply chain on June 11. The hearing is expected to provide a high-level overview of a broad range of supply chain concerns, and explore the underlying background and contributing factors that have led to current disruptions—emphasizing a deeper understanding of the “what” and the “why” behind these issues. Expected topics include drug shortages, tariffs, international reference pricing, inspections of foreign drug manufacturing sites, and more. While we don’t expect the majority to push a proposal or fix it at the hearing, we do expect members to offer plenty of ideas.
Meanwhile, the House is watching the Senate with the same energy as a reunion special audience—waiting to see who flips, who cries, and whether groups such as the Freedom Caucus or SALT Caucus will throw the whole thing off track. Everyone’s whispering about it like it’s a secret affair we’re all pretending not to know about.
Additionally, a rescissions package that bill is causing slashes funding to HIV/AIDS programs like PEPFAR is expected on the floor this week. This will cause an uproar among public health groups, as well as both Republican and Democratic representatives who have been supportive of the program.
The reintroduction of the Improving Access to Medicare Coverage Act is likely this week. This bipartisan bill would count patients’ time spent under observation status in a hospital towards the three-day stay required for Medicare coverage of care in a skilled nursing facility. CMS had waived the requirement during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), but with the PHE in the rearview mirror, supporters are hoping lessons learned from the PHE will help draw new interest and a willingness to explore including the legislation in a must-pass health care package this Congress.
Other Health Hearings This Week
- June 10: House Appropriations Committee MILCON-VA Subcommittee Markup of FY 26 Allocations
- June 11: House VA Oversight Subcommittee Legislative Hearing on H.R. 3482 Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act and H.R. 3494, VA Hospital Inventory Management System Authorization Act
- June 12: House VA Health Subcommittee Legislative Hearing on H.R. 785, The Representing Our Seniors at VA Act of 2025; H.R. 2068, The Veterans Patient Advocacy Act; H.R. 2605, The Service Dogs Assisting Veterans (SAVES) Act; H.R. 3400, The Territorial Response and Access to Veterans’ Essential Lifecare (TRAVEL) Act of 2025; H.R. 3643, The VA Data Transparency and Trust Act; H.R. 1404, The CHAMPVA Children’s Care Protection Act of 2025; and H.R. 2148, The Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act
There you Have it
A reminder that Father’s Day is June 15! Chamber Hill Strategies wishes all the Dads out there a very Happy Father’s Day.
Identifying the right partners is a cornerstone of any successful coalition building. Even the most compelling policy goals need the support of trusted allies to gain traction with key stakeholders and decision-makers. When you’re building a formal coalition, you have to know who to bring to the table and how to engage them.
Finding the Right Policy Partners: A Strategic Approach to Coalition Building
Once you have defined your policy goal, the next critical step is identifying the right partners to help you achieve it. Building an effective coalition requires more than shared interests—it requires strategic thinking, creativity, and the ability to engage stakeholders with diverse perspectives.
Start with Stakeholder Mapping
Begin by performing stakeholder mapping to determine who could bring valuable influence, expertise, or networks to your cause. If your organization lacks access to key policymakers, look for partners that can help close that gap—particularly those with strong grassroots or grass tops connections. Identifying who has the credibility and connections you need can strengthen your overall effort.
Look Beyond the Obvious
When researching potential partners, do not just focus on those who share your exact point of view. Some of the most impactful coalitions are formed through alliances with organizations that approach the same issue from a different angle. For instance, if your argument focuses on the economic impact of a proposed policy, consider reaching out to health or caregiving groups whose members would also be affected. This diversity of thought can expand your message and appeal to a broader range of stakeholders.
Engage with Decision-Makers
Once you have identified potential allies, initiate conversations with key decision-makers within those organizations. These are the people who can commit their organization’s resources and voice to your cause. Lead with your shared policy goals but be sensitive to any differences in mission or priorities. Emphasize where your goals align and how collaboration could create a stronger, unified message.
Be direct: express your desire to have them join the coalition. If possible, leave the meeting with a concrete next step—or better yet, a commitment to a partner.
Final Thoughts
By identifying the right partners, embracing diverse perspectives, and engaging decision-makers thoughtfully, you can build a coalition that brings both power and credibility to your policy efforts. Look for our next blog about mastering a meeting!
Chamber Hill Strategies
When it comes to coalition building, Chamber Hill Strategies stands out among lobbying firms in DC. Our comprehensive approach helps clients achieve their advocacy goals. With strong relationships on Capitol Hill and a track record of shaping health policy, we turn complex challenges into real-world wins.
Let our expertise in Washington, DC guide your efforts towards successful and meaningful stakeholder engagement.
